Adopting

After You Are Approved

Information about Adoption in Solihull.

After You Are Approved

Once you are approved by the Agency, you are available to be considered for any appropriate children who need families.

A child may be suggested for you from Solihull,. Alternatively, a link may be made with a child referred to Solihull by the West Midlands Consortium of Adoption Agencies or another agency.

You may decide to join BAAF (British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering) or Adoption UK. Both of these organisations publish a regular journal which features children who need families. Their contact details are on the Contact Details page - see below.

When you have been approved for three months, if you agree, your details will be added to the database held by the West Midlands Consortium of Adoption Agencies. If no link has been suggested within six months, your details will be added to the National Adoption Register.

While you are waiting to be linked with a child, you will receive regular visits from your social worker and your status as an approved adopter will be reviewed annually. This review will provide an update on your situation and record any significant changes. A medical update and new police checks will also be required. If, for any reason, a recommendation is made to revoke your approval the annual review report will be considered by the Adoption Panel. You will be notified of the proposed Agency decision following the review within 15 working days. The same system of further representation is available if you do not agree with the proposed decision following the annual review.

Matching - How It Works

Great care is taken to match individual children with the right adoptive parents. The needs of each child are identified and the strengths and abilities of each adoptive family are considered in order to weigh up which family can best meet those needs. Families are often asked to consider specific children and may be asked to meet the child's social worker and foster carer to establish whether or not they should be considered further.

When the most appropriate family is identified, and the Agency is considering placing a child with them, they will be provided with detailed information about the child and the circumstances leading to the proposed placement. This information will be given in writing and must be treated as strictly confidential.

The family will be visited to discuss the proposed placement and ascertain their views. If it is decided to proceed a Placement Report will be submitted to Adoption Panel. The adopters will have a copy of this report and be invited to send their views in writing. In considering a proposed placement, Adoption Panel will consider the child's Permanence Report, the Prospective Adopters Report, the Adoption Placement Report and the adopters views.

When Adoption Panel recommends a placement, the recommendation is ratified by the Agency Decision Maker.

When the match has been made, a Placement Planning Meeting is held which includes the adopters, the current foster carers, the child social worker and the family social worker. The meeting will draw up the Placement Plan. There is a period of sharing full information, followed by introductory meetings and visits. The child is not placed with the new family until all concerned are sure that the timing is right and everyone is ready. Most children are placed from foster homes so adoptive parents and foster parents work closely together in the interests of the child. The Placement Plan will confirm a proposed date on which the child will be placed.

Adoption Support

The needs of the child and the family for support after placement and after adoption will be assessed and an Adoption Support Plan will be considered at Adoption Panel. This may include financial support (which would be means tested).

After Placement

After the child is placed with their new family, the family social worker will still visit to offer support and guidance throughout the process. The child's social worker will also visit to support the child. There are regular reviews of the placement, the first after one month, then three months and then every six months. One of the tasks of the review is to assist the adopters in deciding when they are ready to apply for an Adoption Order.

As adoption is so complex and sensitive, despite the best efforts of everyone, not every placement succeeds. Sometimes it becomes clear that the wrong link has been made and child and family are not right for each other. If this happens, everyone involved works together to move the child on without feelings of guilt, rejection or blame for the child or the family.

Adoption Orders

An application can be made when the child has been with their adopters for 10 weeks.

Adopters of very young children may feel ready to make their application within a few months. With older children, it is advisable to wait longer so all parties have the opportunity to make the necessary adjustments and feel confident that a real attachment is being made.

An Adoption Order has the effect of making the child legally the child of the adopters. They have full parental responsibility and will, in future, be treated as the parents of the child. A new Birth Certificate is issued in the child's adoptive name. Once an Adoption Order is made no one, except the adopted person at age 18 years, has access to the original birth family information which is held by the placing Adoption Agency.

After Adoption

Adoption is an ongoing, life-long status and not a one-off event. Consequently, adoptive parents often feel the need of additional advice, counselling or support, when they experience different challenges as their child grows up. Sometimes this need can be met by informal contact with other adoptive parents, sometimes they feel the need of professional help.

Solihull MBC is a member of Adoption Support through which specialist support is available including direct work with families and counselling.

We also have a Post-Adoption worker who is always available for consultation. A group of Adopters meets four times a year for mutual support and discussion of specific issues. Adoptive parents may also find help through various voluntary organisations, e.g.: Adoption UK, WMPAS, BAAF.

Adopters, adopted children and birth parents have a right to ask the Adoption Agency for an assessment of need should they require any adoption support in the future. If the support is needed within 3 years of an order being made, the Placing Agency will offer support. After 3 years, the Local Authority in which the family lives will be responsible for carrying out an assessment.

Contact Details

Adoption Team
Jubilee House
655 Auckland Drive
Smith's Wood Solihull
B36 0SN

Telephone: 0800 073 0769

Email: ssplace@solihull.gov.uk

For general information on Children and Family Services, please email childrensservices@solihull.gov.uk